First Swing

The padel court smelled like rubber and desperation. My first day at the new school, and somehow I'd let Tyler talk me into joining the club. Padel was like tennis but easier, he'd said. Fun, he'd said.

He hadn't mentioned that everyone here had been playing since kindergarten.

"You got this, new kid," someone yelled from the sidelines. Probably trying to be nice. Definitely failing.

My hands were sweating through the grip. I adjusted my hair for the third time, aware of every single pair of eyes on me. The padel ball bounced toward me, and I swung like my life depended on it.

Whiff. Nothing but air.

The court erupted. Not mean laughter, but laughter all the same. My face burned hotter than the sun beating down on the outdoor court.

Tyler tossed me an orange from his bag. "Hydrate, bro. You look like you're about to pass out."

I caught it one-handed, trying to play it cool. "I'm good."

"Your face says otherwise."

He wasn't wrong. I peeled the orange, my fingers shaking slightly, trying to pretend this wasn't the most embarrassing moment of my entire sixteen years.

"Hey." A girl with messy braths stepped onto the court. Maya, whose locker was next to mine. "Everyone misses their first swing. Mine went into the net. Twice."

"Really?"

"Cross my heart." She grabbed a racket. "Show me your stance again."

The next hour blurred into a montage of failed serves, coaching from Maya and Tyler, and finally, one solid hit that sent the padel ball exactly where I wanted it to go.

The water fountain break never tasted so good.

"Not bad, new kid," Maya said, bumping my shoulder with hers. "Same time tomorrow?"

I smiled, genuinely for the first time all day. "Wouldn't miss it."